Scrap Yards Fight Metal Theft

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Story Published: Nov 13, 2009 at 6:44 PM PST

By Ryan Simms

YAKIMA -- With metal theft on the rise, local scrap yards are scrutinizing a lot more of the things being brought in.

In between the cars, cans, and cranes at Pacific Steel and Recycling, Bob Hoffman is pushing back against Yakima's metal thieves.

"If they're bringing in a lot of copper pipe, and they're not a plumber, you question them a little bit," says Hoffman.

But it's not stopping thieves from trying. Just this week, 217 brass vases were stolen out of a local cemetery.

According to the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, things like aluminum pipes and brass sprinkler heads are targeted the most.

To make sure those stolen items don't end up at a scrap heap, Hoffman has to take some important precautions.

"We take license plate numbers, and we have to have a valid state or federal license," Hoffman tells Action News reporter Ryan Simms.

Hoffman also relies on a series of security cameras.

Additionally, there's also a ten day waiting period before people can receive money for their items, which allows Hoffman to examine all the things that are being discarded.

He and other scrap dealers are set on junking the efforts of thieves to profit from other people's things.

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